‘Guys. She Quit After One Shift’: Person From An Office Job Tries Working In A Food Service Job, Gets A Reality Check
What do you think of when you think of working for minimum wage? Flipping burgers? Sweeping floors? Putting money in a cash register? Maybe if you haven’t had one of those jobs before. Otherwise, you’re probably thinking of carrying bags of garbage that weigh half as much as you do, sweating profusely, sticking your hands in disgusting substances, and being treated like dirt by the general public.
A Tumblr page that invites followers to submit stories airing their frustrations with working in service jobs posted this submission in which a waiter witnessed what happened when someone who was used to having a cushy office job gave food service a try. She didn’t even last one shift after finding out what anybody who works in food service could have told her, that “low-skill” jobs are not low-effort.
Image credits: gurmit singh (Not the actual photo)
Someone submitted this story to a blog where service workers vent
Obviously, every work environment has its disadvantages, but another person who went from working in retail to a desk job agreed that it feels downright luxurious compared to being on your feet all day and being nagged not to lean on the counter or drink water in front of customers.
People with desk jobs might take their freedom for granted: a study in the UK in 2016 found that on average, office workers spent barely three hours of their eight-hour workday focusing on work. That’s not necessarily a condemnation of them—psychologists suspect that there’s simply an upper limit to the time people can focus on cognitive work like writing, and in a culture of 40-hour work weeks for all, that time just isn’t used efficiently.
This user shared their experience going from retail to a desk job
You might have been told before that everybody should work in food service at least once in their life. Reading this thread, it’s hard not to agree. If you eventually end up in a job that’s less physically demanding, knowing what the service world is like can give you empathy, unlike people who verbally abuse service workers and argue against minimum wage increases from a position of not even knowing what their jobs are like.
Commenters agreed that service jobs are not for the faint of heart
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There seems to be an inverse relationship to how much someone is paid and how hard they work. Well I guess that's what happens when you shift to a service based economy from an industrial one.
The prez getting briefed watching his favorite tv shows and communicating with his fellow citizens via Twitter comes to mind. Saad
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I work in an office where this girl got hired from a completely different background job and now she takes absolute full advantage of stopping and chit chatting/gobbling up all the snacks in the break room because she never had that before at any other of her jobs. I get it's new to her and she likes the leniency but don't just abuse the system - you'll ruin it for the rest of us. For anyone reading this heading to a job where they are lenient about your tardiness or breaks, please keep the rest of your co-workers in mind and not blow it for everyone else.
Cut your comment out and stick it to her monitor (=
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I actually used to love working in kitchens back in the day. I've worked in an office for the last 15 years and I am bored most days in work, have limited relationships with my colleagues and I am way way fatter! Yes, it was really hard work and low paid, but I got more joy out of those jobs (and I was fitter!) than I do out my working in finance behind a computer screen. Couldn't afford to go back though, sadly.
I work a low paid office job now. Skilled work, but not really challenging. I hate it! In the past I worked at McDonalds, then the Army, then a contractor overseas. Contracting paid the most but was not stable, so it doesn't really get counted as comparable in that respect, and I was paid mainly for being willing to risk my life to do a basic job (where military I risked my life but was barely paid...hmmm). All of those jobs were physically demanding, in one form or another. Sure, I didn't need to run 6 miles per day working at McDonalds but I never got to sit either. I miss those jobs, I miss moving, I miss not being a fatass with medical problems. If I could pay my bills on that rate I SO would do it (in fact my wife and I are trying to make that happen....)
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I can attest that some office jobs are quite "relaxing" (if you're not planning on having a carreer). Working hard is necessary in some jobs, but please do not mix up a "hard job" with a "job made difficult by the boss to save money". You are not a robot, you are not a slave, you have a right to rest at least 8 hours, and you deserve a living wage. In some civilized countries, imposing "hard work" is an excuse to exploit you. People doing the cleaning here where I live make at least 25.-- per hour and work in teams of four. Here, an experienced carpenter makes more money than an experienced office clerk. Here, a cashier's job at McDonalds is cashing in, and the burger-flipper flips burgers. It's not just the job, it's how your boss (and the lobbyists) wants the job to be.
I worked as a waitress for one weekend. I made fantastic tips, but the work involved made it clear that it was not worth it. Then I see these young people woking for $2.13 an hour and the state expecting their tips will make up the difference to $7.25 per hour. No..the tips should be ON TOP OF $7.25 per hour. This is the first thing that needs to change in minimum wage. I know of one restaurant that isn't paying the difference when the waitresses fall short of $7.25 like they are supposed to by law. I tried to report the place, but the Department of Labor says the employees have to lodge a complaint. I couldn't get any of them to do it because, as crappy as the job was, it was better than being unemployed. That's why I tip the wait staff directly in cash and try to let them know of other, higher paying, less stressful jobs when I come across them.
I worked a few retail jobs when I was just starting to work. Teens and twenties. Then I got a job as a waitress for the 3 longest years of my life. (Cracker barrel). I sweat to death and come home smelling like turnip green juice because it would slosh out of those little bowls onto me every time. Then I would go home and pass out early every night. I will forever have respect for people in the food business. And I know not to be rude to people who touch your food. My daughter has her first job at the same restaurant. So she learned early to respect people who prepare food. Made me miss reatail.
I concur. My two months as a waiter were the worst in my life. I've worked as hard since, but only one or two days at a time when deadlines loom. Not each and every day. By comparison my office job has so much less pressure, so many more perks (I can stop for food or go to the toilet when the hell I like!), and due to my excellent colleagues, a great social life.
Double the fun - food service in a hotel. Try getting up at 3:30 A.M., serving a full breakfast to oh, 200 people single-handedly, then tearing down, cleaning up and setting up for the next day. And truck deliveries twice a week. For unspeakably insulting wages, and no tips. And I'm almost 60. Please, if you stay in a hotel that offers you that awesome free breakfast, tip the poor kitchen slave.
You can always tell the people who have never worked in food service; they have "dreams" of opening a restaurant or bar when they retire or before. They think it's easy, and they'll make tons of money. It's not and they won't. I was finally able to convince my husband that bartending or owning a bar is NOT a good retirement plan after Bar Rescue came out. He was amazed at what he didn't realize; I just nodded my head.
I guess it depends on what kind of work you do in an office. I work on climate change issues in government. I won't go into the details, but it's basically like a mix of working as a reporter (which I've done) and going to university -- with a lot research, writing, deadlines, high expectations and pressure involved. And, needless to say, the topic -- climate change -- isn't exactly fun. I love my job, by the way. I've worked as a server, and it was way easier than the job I do. Not that serving is easy, and I always tip well because I've been there! I don't know what kind of easy office jobs other Pandas are talking about, but I've never had one like them.
In my teens I worked first in food service, then in a bookstore. This was in the mid 1960s (yeah, I'm old). I don't recall anything horrible. In college I worked part time as a waitress, and had a couple of icky incidents. I think times were kinder then, but maybe I was just very lucky.
Well, I once had an office job where you weren't allowed to be away from your desk, you couldn't make coffee outside of certain set times, absolutely NO smoke breaks and NO chatting by the water cooler / printer. It was pathetic. So glad I got away from there. ALSO, I'm always nice to retail / food servers because they are always nice to me. I don't have the patience with people to do that kind of job and I appreciate that there are people who do it (willingly or not) and then are still able to smile at customers.
I am retired from an office job I loved, and never worked a service job. I know I could NEVER have managed one. I tip our servers generously when we go out because I realize how lucky I am.
You can't go to toilet whenever you need to. Regardless if you are on your period. You literally have no time to drink one single damn glass of water. Your feet hurt, your back hurts, your shoulders hurt, you cannot sleep from pain. And you are being handled like a piece of c**p.
I've worked service jobs for about 8 years while I attended college and searched for a decent job. It's amazing to me how much harder I used to work for so much less money. I have a very cushy job now, making twice as much. It's almost laughable.
I worked in all sorts of retail and food service, back when I was younger and in a LOT better shape. I know what these people go through, and now that I'm old and fat, I know I can't do it anymore, so I don't even apply for those jobs. I give those who do that work the utmost respect, 'cause they deserve it.
omg, i guess she got her eyes opened real quick! i can honestly say that i CAN'T do food service--especially waiting tables. Tried & failed--I really sucked; it IS a hard job. As a result, I've ALWAYS made it a point to be nice to wait staff & tip well. Not everyone can do that job and do it well, so I definitely appreciate the people that do it!
The hard work nonsense is just a myth. It's about working SMART. Look at all those poor souls doing roofing during the summer. You think they get paid top dollar? Nope.... the money is spent on some fake office executive position at a large company for a family member of someone in a position of power (usually political power). These useless monkeys often get paid six figure incomes and probably stare at internet porn all day.
It's simony, you're speaking about. These people do not work at all - they get the money only because someone gave it to them. In normal work, you need to generate the most 'bang for the buck'. Depending on what you're doing, it might require working more or thinking of ways to do it more efficiently, usually both. But even if you, say, automatize something, you need to put an extra effort to do this _outside_ anything you need to do. This is still hard work.
Load More Replies...
I sometimes think I'd like to do an office job instead of retail. It seems like the whole world is geared up for the Monday to Friday 9-5. Not sure what I'd do in an office though.
everybody should have a job serving the public for awhile. just so they know. I worked at a McDonald's in 1973 for four hours. went back to office work. then in 1976 went in to retail. been self-employed in retail since 1981. EVERYBODY needs to find out what its' like before they make someone miserable.
I worked both types of jobs. Retail is hell, hard work, long hours, no rests, no holidays, mean ppl, low wage... Office job may look like a vacation. But why ppl struggle to find a good office worker so much than. The place I am atm everyone thinks I'm a blessing. Whole 2 years they couldn't find anyone to properly do things. I spent the first months canceling and rewriting messed up paperwork. I returned lots of cash to my employers. Maybe that's why this type of work is more valued.
Retail and fast food will suck your will to live and make you hate people. I'll take any office job, working for as many hours as they want. I ardently hope I will never, ever, have to go back to either retail or fast food.
I started in the food industry.... everything from fast food to staff at a private country club. Now that I am in a corporate setting, aside from the pay, the food industry was a cake walk. Now Im sure the types of corporate job will vary as far as stress and difficulty, but I get paid a lot more now because the job requires A LOT MORE. Employees are paid based on the value they bring.
That's why those jobs are mostly staffed by young people, they still have a tolerance for b******t that older people just don't have the patience for any more. When I got my office job after 12 years of retail/customer service, I'd spend my lunch break reading a book and leisurely eating in silence. For some reason, this made me look industrious. To me it was heaven. I learned to love silence and being left alone. Retail/customer service jobs will suck your soul dry and leave you absolutely hating humanity.
You can usually tell people who have never worked in a service industry (restaurant, retail, etc.) I've had a few friends that I had to "educate" about the finer points of blue collar working (I worked both retail and restaurant). Such as gently correcting one friend that thought tipping was just extra money in the server's pocket; until I explained that in many states (we were in WA) the tip gets taxed. The server gets to pay taxes on the food she "sold" to the customers every year. So out of that 10% tip she was about to leave - the server pays 8.2% (in the late 1990s) in taxes on what she ate, and gets to take home the 1.8% on top of the whopping minimum wage she makes. I continued to point out that the server was running 8 tables (average 4 persons per table) for a 6-8 hour shift, with little time to stop, sit down, let alone eat a quick meal or drink. I know that while I'm still capable of performing all that, I have no desire to do so - nor do I have that stamina anymore.
Okay till you contradicted yourself in the very last sentence.
Load More Replies... There seems to be an inverse relationship to how much someone is paid and how hard they work. Well I guess that's what happens when you shift to a service based economy from an industrial one.
The prez getting briefed watching his favorite tv shows and communicating with his fellow citizens via Twitter comes to mind. Saad
Load More Replies... I work in an office where this girl got hired from a completely different background job and now she takes absolute full advantage of stopping and chit chatting/gobbling up all the snacks in the break room because she never had that before at any other of her jobs. I get it's new to her and she likes the leniency but don't just abuse the system - you'll ruin it for the rest of us. For anyone reading this heading to a job where they are lenient about your tardiness or breaks, please keep the rest of your co-workers in mind and not blow it for everyone else.
Cut your comment out and stick it to her monitor (=
Load More Replies... I actually used to love working in kitchens back in the day. I've worked in an office for the last 15 years and I am bored most days in work, have limited relationships with my colleagues and I am way way fatter! Yes, it was really hard work and low paid, but I got more joy out of those jobs (and I was fitter!) than I do out my working in finance behind a computer screen. Couldn't afford to go back though, sadly.
I work a low paid office job now. Skilled work, but not really challenging. I hate it! In the past I worked at McDonalds, then the Army, then a contractor overseas. Contracting paid the most but was not stable, so it doesn't really get counted as comparable in that respect, and I was paid mainly for being willing to risk my life to do a basic job (where military I risked my life but was barely paid...hmmm). All of those jobs were physically demanding, in one form or another. Sure, I didn't need to run 6 miles per day working at McDonalds but I never got to sit either. I miss those jobs, I miss moving, I miss not being a fatass with medical problems. If I could pay my bills on that rate I SO would do it (in fact my wife and I are trying to make that happen....)
Load More Replies... I can attest that some office jobs are quite "relaxing" (if you're not planning on having a carreer). Working hard is necessary in some jobs, but please do not mix up a "hard job" with a "job made difficult by the boss to save money". You are not a robot, you are not a slave, you have a right to rest at least 8 hours, and you deserve a living wage. In some civilized countries, imposing "hard work" is an excuse to exploit you. People doing the cleaning here where I live make at least 25.-- per hour and work in teams of four. Here, an experienced carpenter makes more money than an experienced office clerk. Here, a cashier's job at McDonalds is cashing in, and the burger-flipper flips burgers. It's not just the job, it's how your boss (and the lobbyists) wants the job to be.
I worked as a waitress for one weekend. I made fantastic tips, but the work involved made it clear that it was not worth it. Then I see these young people woking for $2.13 an hour and the state expecting their tips will make up the difference to $7.25 per hour. No..the tips should be ON TOP OF $7.25 per hour. This is the first thing that needs to change in minimum wage. I know of one restaurant that isn't paying the difference when the waitresses fall short of $7.25 like they are supposed to by law. I tried to report the place, but the Department of Labor says the employees have to lodge a complaint. I couldn't get any of them to do it because, as crappy as the job was, it was better than being unemployed. That's why I tip the wait staff directly in cash and try to let them know of other, higher paying, less stressful jobs when I come across them.
I worked a few retail jobs when I was just starting to work. Teens and twenties. Then I got a job as a waitress for the 3 longest years of my life. (Cracker barrel). I sweat to death and come home smelling like turnip green juice because it would slosh out of those little bowls onto me every time. Then I would go home and pass out early every night. I will forever have respect for people in the food business. And I know not to be rude to people who touch your food. My daughter has her first job at the same restaurant. So she learned early to respect people who prepare food. Made me miss reatail.
I concur. My two months as a waiter were the worst in my life. I've worked as hard since, but only one or two days at a time when deadlines loom. Not each and every day. By comparison my office job has so much less pressure, so many more perks (I can stop for food or go to the toilet when the hell I like!), and due to my excellent colleagues, a great social life.
Double the fun - food service in a hotel. Try getting up at 3:30 A.M., serving a full breakfast to oh, 200 people single-handedly, then tearing down, cleaning up and setting up for the next day. And truck deliveries twice a week. For unspeakably insulting wages, and no tips. And I'm almost 60. Please, if you stay in a hotel that offers you that awesome free breakfast, tip the poor kitchen slave.
You can always tell the people who have never worked in food service; they have "dreams" of opening a restaurant or bar when they retire or before. They think it's easy, and they'll make tons of money. It's not and they won't. I was finally able to convince my husband that bartending or owning a bar is NOT a good retirement plan after Bar Rescue came out. He was amazed at what he didn't realize; I just nodded my head.
I guess it depends on what kind of work you do in an office. I work on climate change issues in government. I won't go into the details, but it's basically like a mix of working as a reporter (which I've done) and going to university -- with a lot research, writing, deadlines, high expectations and pressure involved. And, needless to say, the topic -- climate change -- isn't exactly fun. I love my job, by the way. I've worked as a server, and it was way easier than the job I do. Not that serving is easy, and I always tip well because I've been there! I don't know what kind of easy office jobs other Pandas are talking about, but I've never had one like them.
In my teens I worked first in food service, then in a bookstore. This was in the mid 1960s (yeah, I'm old). I don't recall anything horrible. In college I worked part time as a waitress, and had a couple of icky incidents. I think times were kinder then, but maybe I was just very lucky.
Well, I once had an office job where you weren't allowed to be away from your desk, you couldn't make coffee outside of certain set times, absolutely NO smoke breaks and NO chatting by the water cooler / printer. It was pathetic. So glad I got away from there. ALSO, I'm always nice to retail / food servers because they are always nice to me. I don't have the patience with people to do that kind of job and I appreciate that there are people who do it (willingly or not) and then are still able to smile at customers.
I am retired from an office job I loved, and never worked a service job. I know I could NEVER have managed one. I tip our servers generously when we go out because I realize how lucky I am.
You can't go to toilet whenever you need to. Regardless if you are on your period. You literally have no time to drink one single damn glass of water. Your feet hurt, your back hurts, your shoulders hurt, you cannot sleep from pain. And you are being handled like a piece of c**p.
I've worked service jobs for about 8 years while I attended college and searched for a decent job. It's amazing to me how much harder I used to work for so much less money. I have a very cushy job now, making twice as much. It's almost laughable.
I worked in all sorts of retail and food service, back when I was younger and in a LOT better shape. I know what these people go through, and now that I'm old and fat, I know I can't do it anymore, so I don't even apply for those jobs. I give those who do that work the utmost respect, 'cause they deserve it.
omg, i guess she got her eyes opened real quick! i can honestly say that i CAN'T do food service--especially waiting tables. Tried & failed--I really sucked; it IS a hard job. As a result, I've ALWAYS made it a point to be nice to wait staff & tip well. Not everyone can do that job and do it well, so I definitely appreciate the people that do it!
The hard work nonsense is just a myth. It's about working SMART. Look at all those poor souls doing roofing during the summer. You think they get paid top dollar? Nope.... the money is spent on some fake office executive position at a large company for a family member of someone in a position of power (usually political power). These useless monkeys often get paid six figure incomes and probably stare at internet porn all day.
It's simony, you're speaking about. These people do not work at all - they get the money only because someone gave it to them. In normal work, you need to generate the most 'bang for the buck'. Depending on what you're doing, it might require working more or thinking of ways to do it more efficiently, usually both. But even if you, say, automatize something, you need to put an extra effort to do this _outside_ anything you need to do. This is still hard work.
Load More Replies... I sometimes think I'd like to do an office job instead of retail. It seems like the whole world is geared up for the Monday to Friday 9-5. Not sure what I'd do in an office though.
everybody should have a job serving the public for awhile. just so they know. I worked at a McDonald's in 1973 for four hours. went back to office work. then in 1976 went in to retail. been self-employed in retail since 1981. EVERYBODY needs to find out what its' like before they make someone miserable.
I worked both types of jobs. Retail is hell, hard work, long hours, no rests, no holidays, mean ppl, low wage... Office job may look like a vacation. But why ppl struggle to find a good office worker so much than. The place I am atm everyone thinks I'm a blessing. Whole 2 years they couldn't find anyone to properly do things. I spent the first months canceling and rewriting messed up paperwork. I returned lots of cash to my employers. Maybe that's why this type of work is more valued.
Retail and fast food will suck your will to live and make you hate people. I'll take any office job, working for as many hours as they want. I ardently hope I will never, ever, have to go back to either retail or fast food.
I started in the food industry.... everything from fast food to staff at a private country club. Now that I am in a corporate setting, aside from the pay, the food industry was a cake walk. Now Im sure the types of corporate job will vary as far as stress and difficulty, but I get paid a lot more now because the job requires A LOT MORE. Employees are paid based on the value they bring.
That's why those jobs are mostly staffed by young people, they still have a tolerance for b******t that older people just don't have the patience for any more. When I got my office job after 12 years of retail/customer service, I'd spend my lunch break reading a book and leisurely eating in silence. For some reason, this made me look industrious. To me it was heaven. I learned to love silence and being left alone. Retail/customer service jobs will suck your soul dry and leave you absolutely hating humanity.
You can usually tell people who have never worked in a service industry (restaurant, retail, etc.) I've had a few friends that I had to "educate" about the finer points of blue collar working (I worked both retail and restaurant). Such as gently correcting one friend that thought tipping was just extra money in the server's pocket; until I explained that in many states (we were in WA) the tip gets taxed. The server gets to pay taxes on the food she "sold" to the customers every year. So out of that 10% tip she was about to leave - the server pays 8.2% (in the late 1990s) in taxes on what she ate, and gets to take home the 1.8% on top of the whopping minimum wage she makes. I continued to point out that the server was running 8 tables (average 4 persons per table) for a 6-8 hour shift, with little time to stop, sit down, let alone eat a quick meal or drink. I know that while I'm still capable of performing all that, I have no desire to do so - nor do I have that stamina anymore.
Okay till you contradicted yourself in the very last sentence.
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